Improvement in axle-box covers



2 SheetsL--Sheet 1.

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improvement in Axle-Box Covers.

Patented Apri-I 25, 87i.

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- 2 Sheets--Sheet 2. W. H'.- FlTZ GERALD. improvement in AxIev-BoxCovers.

Patent ed`Apr 25,187l.

VV VTN ESSES UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

WALTER II. FITZ GERALD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'IO HIM- SELFAND ISAIAH A. HUSON, OF JERSEY CITY, NEV JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN AXLE-BOX COVERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 114,122, dated April25, 1871.

I, WALTER II. Fr'rz GERALD, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAxle-Box Covers for Railway-Gars and other purposes, of which thefollowing is a specification:

Nature and Objects of the Lwcntioa.

My invention relates to a detachable cap or cover for axle-boxes whichadmits of being set in position or removed in an instant, while at thesame time it has no liability of working loose or becoming accidentallydetached.

My improvements consist, first, in constructing axle-box covers with aspring latch or bolt which, in connection with a suitable stud or hookon its other end or side and lugs upon the box, will hold the said capor cover firmly in the position as hereinafter explained; second, in amanner of constructing` the said latch or bolt, which adapts it to holdmore securely, as hereinafter explained; third, in an appliance by whichmy improved cap or cover may be used in connection with axle-boxes ofcommon form.

Description of the Accompanying Drawing.

Figure lis a vertical section of my improved cap or cover, showing apart of the axle-box to which it is applied. The line :c in Fig. lindicates the plane of section. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of thesame at y y, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a top or face view of the box with thecover removed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view ofthe under or inner part ofthe cover, with portions broken away to expose the bolt-sprin g. Fig. 5is an under-side view of a portion of a cover, showing two springsapplied to the bolt. Fig. G is a transverse section at z z, Fig. 5. Fig.7 is a side elevation, showing a manner of appl yin g my cap or cover toa common axlebox by the interposition of-a casket to receive and attachit. Fig. 8 is a top view of said casket and box with the cover removed.Fig. S) is a central vertical section of the parts shown in Fig. 7. Fig.10 is acentral vertical section of a common box made without lugs, withmy cover applied.

General Description. B represents a portion of an axle-box, cast withlugs b b', both of which, to adapt them for use with my improved cap orcover, are formed with open slots, and one of them, b, is chamfered onits face, as represented. Instead ofthe T-bolts and nuts most commonlyemployed for attaching the covers of car-axle boxes, I provide the coverC on one side or end with a T- stud, T, permanently attached thereto,preferably of wrought-iron, which may be screwed or riveted into thecap, and on the other side with a sliding bolt or latch, E, working in asocket, S, cast upon the inner face of the cap, and drawn into lock byone or more springs, F, which may be of spiral or any other convenientform.

The head c of the latch is formed as represented to adapt it to begrasped by two iingers, in order to draw it out when the box is to beopened, and where it engages beneath the lng b1 the surfaces of bothlatch and lug are preferably inclined, so that a wedge-like action willbe exerted under the influence of the spring or springs F to draw thecap tightly upon the box.

The bolt or latch E may be made of cast, malleable, or wrought iron, orof a wroughtiron mandrel or spring, with a cap or socket piece, el, forthe spring or springs cast or shrunk upon it.

The cap or cover O is formed with a lug or projection, c, which coversthe projecting outer end of the bolt and affords a convenient hold orbearing for the hand in retracting the bolt, as well as for elevatingthe cover when it is released. c represents projecting stays cast uponthe under surface of the cap, and serving to keepin proper position byiittin g within the corners of the box.

In the illustration given in Figs. 7, S, and 9, A may represent a partof a common axlebox, to which my invention may bc adapted in thefollowing manner: I construct a casket, B, fitting over the axle-box,and fixed thereon by bolts G, passed through lugs b2 in the inside oroutside of the said casket, located and arranged in any manner which maybe necessary to adapt them to correspond with the customary lugs a c onthe box A, which lugs are sometimes located within and sometimes on theoutside of the box. The bolts being inserted and their nuts screwediirmly upon them, the bolts are headed over the nuts to prevent thelatter from Working loose.

The casket B is provided With lugs b b, similar to those in Figs. 2 and3. These lugs and the stud and latch which engage therewith may ineither case be arranged at the ends or sides of the box and cover, asprefel-red.

My aim has been, in showing these various modes of applying theinvention, to exemplify the fact that it may be used in various WaysWithout limiting my claim to the specic arrangement or location of thevarious parts.

If it be desired to adapt my cap or cover to a box constructed Withoutlugs, it is only necessary to construct the stud Tin a hook form, orwith a longitudinal projection, t, engaging with a shoulder or slot, al,in one end of the axle-box A, and form a notch or hook, ez, in the latchor bolt E, adapted to catch and hold in a slot, a2, which is cut for itin the other end of the box. This modification of my invention isillustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawing.

Operation.

To place the cap or `cover upon the box, it is passed over the slottedlug b in an inclined position, with the stud T passing through the slotin said lug and engaging beneath it. The cap is then brought down, thebolt or latch E drawn out suiiiciently to catch over the end of the lugb1. The end of the cap being then pressed down, the bolt is drawn in bythe action of the spring or springs, the transverse neck of the boltpassing Within the slot of the said lug, and the head catching rmlybeneath the same.

If the parts be so proportioned that the bolt or latch is not stopped byits head coming in contact with the side of the box, but by wedging uponthe inclined lug, the bolt Will become locked, so that it must bereleased by a slight prizing action with a screw-driver or otherinstrument before it can be readily retracted by the hand; but byarranging the latch-head so that it Will come in contact With the sideof the box this -lockin g effect will be avoided.

A very slight variation in the longitudinal prominence of the head orthe transverse prominence of the Wedge-surface, which variation can bemade in a minute With a tile, will thus change the latch so as to adaptit to lock fast when the box is closed, or to be left compara` tivelyloose, as preferred.

Claims.

I claim as my invention- 1. The removable cover C, secured on one sideby one or more studs, T, and on the other by the spring latch or bolt E,engaging beneath the lug b, and formed with a laterallyprojecting head,for the purpose of retracting it, all substantially as herein described.

2. The latch orbolt E, constructed with an inclined or Wedge-shapedholding-surface, and drawn into look by a spring or springs,substantially as described.

3. In combination with an axle-box cover an d its securing devices,constructed substantially as above specified, the casket B, constructedWith bolt-lugs b2 b and slotted tapering lugs b b1, and adapted, asspecified, to enable the application of my improved cover to an axleboxof common form.

WALTER H. FITZ GERALD.

Witnesses Oo'rnvrns KNIGHT, WM. H. BiznuEroN, J r.

